PrepLion

Unit 3 of 5

Unit 3: Research Skills and Documentation

Study guide for CLEP CLEP College Composition — Unit 3: Research Skills and Documentation. Practice questions, key concepts, and exam tips.

37

Practice Questions

18

Flashcards

6

Key Topics

Key Concepts to Study

source evaluation
MLA citation
paraphrase vs quote
plagiarism
annotated bibliography
synthesizing sources

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 5 questions from this unit. Sign up for full access to all 37.

Q1MEDIUM

When writing a research paper on a historical event, what type of source is a diary from a soldier who fought in the event?

A) Primary source
B) Secondary source
C) Tertiary source
D) Peer-reviewed source
E) Annotated source
Show Answer

Answer: A — Primary source is correct because it is an original, firsthand account.

Q2EASY

What type of source is documented by the citation (Doe, J. (2022). Article Title. Journal Name, 10(2), 12-20. doi:10.1037/journalname)?

A) Book
B) Journal article
C) Conference paper
D) Website
E) Newspaper editorial
Show Answer

Answer: B — Journal article is correct because it includes a DOI, volume, and issue number, indicating a journal article. Most-tempting distractor A is wrong due to presence of a DOI and journal title.

Q3EASY

What type of source does (Doe 2020) in APA style document?

A) Book
B) Journal article
C) Conference paper
D) Website
E) Thesis
Show Answer

Answer: A — Book is correct because APA citations without a page range typically indicate a book..

Q4MEDIUM

For a research paper on the impact of social media on society, which source would be most relevant?

A) A book on social media marketing
B) A study on the psychological effects of social media
C) A news article on a recent social media trend
D) A social media post by a influencer
E) A documentary film on the history of the internet
Show Answer

Answer: B — A study on the psychological effects of social media is correct because the study is directly relevant to the topic.

Q5EASY

What type of source is a diary written by a historical figure?

A) Primary source
B) Secondary source
C) Tertiary source
D) Quaternary source
E) Reference source
Show Answer

Answer: A — Primary source is correct because diaries are original, firsthand accounts..

Ready to master Unit 3: Research Skills and Documentation?

Get unlimited practice questions, AI tutoring, flashcards, and a personalized study plan. Start free — no credit card required.

Study Tips for Unit 3: Research Skills and Documentation

  • Focus on understanding concepts, not memorizing facts — CLEP tests application
  • Practice with timed questions to build exam-day speed
  • Review explanations for wrong answers — they reveal common misconceptions
  • Use flashcards for key terms, practice questions for deeper understanding

CLEP® is a trademark registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, this product.